(CNSNews.com) - Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) says the purpose of her proposal to ban assault weapons “is to dry up the supply of these weapons over time.”

The legislation would ban the manufacture of 158 named firearms including certain handguns and shotguns.

“We have tried to recognize legal hunting rights, we have tried to recognize legal defense rights, we have tried to recognize the right of a citizen to legally possess a weapon.” Feinstein said on Thursday. “No weapon is taken from any one, the purpose is to dry up the supply of these weapons over time. Therefore there is no sunset on this bill.”

Feinstein’s bill would grandfather in weapons legally owned on the day of enactment and exempts over 900 specific weapons used for sporting purposes.

However, the legislation requires that grandfathered weapons be registered under the National Firearms Act, which includes a background check of owner and any transferee, type and serial number of the firearm and positive identification, including photograph and fingerprints.